Sowela Technical Community College celebrated two milestones Friday — the ribbon cutting for its new nursing building and the groundbreaking for its $20 million regional training facility.

Gov. Bobby Jindal joined state and local officials for the occasion, along with several representatives from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

“This may seem a little unusual, having two ceremonies at once,” said Neil Aspinwall, Sowela’s chancellor. “But considering Sowela’s growth, we have to open one building and break ground on another one just to keep up.”

Officials broke ground on the 67,000-square-foot regional training facility. When the announcement in 2012 was made by Sasol about its expansion plans, Jindal also announced that the state would fund the training hub.

The center, its purpose to train the workforce needed for the expansion, will stand across from Sowela’s main campus, on land once occupied by a trailer park. Construction started officially in late September and should be completed in a year.

The city of Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury and Chennault International Airport Authority bought the 13-acre parcel for $1.7 million and transferred the property to the state, which earmarked the land for the training center.

The new facility will have computer labs, classrooms and industrial lab sites — training 2,300 workers annually for Sasol and other area industries. It will allow Sowela to expand and enhance its process technology and instrumentation degree programs.

Stephen Cornell, executive vice president of international operations at Sasol, said Friday’s ceremony was an example of business and government working together for the same goal.

“Through our dialogue with the community we’ve learned that what people want is a facility that is going to provide the skills and training to land a job — a job that gives them security and a job that gives them a better life for their families,” Cornell said.

“We believe that this new training facility — when you combine it with the expansive workforce development efforts of the state — it’s going to position this community for very long-term success.”

Officials also cut the ribbon on the 35,000-square-foot H.C. Drew Nursing and Allied Health facility. Construction of the building, in the planning stages since 2007, began in February 2013 and was completed in July. The H.C. Drew Foundation donated $2.8 million to help fund the building. And along with state dollars, the total cost was $8.8 million.

“Sowela has waited a long time for this facility,” Aspinwall said. “You’ll quickly realize the building was worth waiting for.”

The facility has 11 classrooms, a science lab and a computer lab. One of the highlights is a simulation lab — complete with beds and teaching aids.

The new building will let Sowela expand its nursing services and phase in allied health programs. McNeese State University will move its two-year program into the building, and McNeese and Sowela faculty will partner in the initiative.

“McNeese and Sowela for years have worked together seamlessly across their institutions, across their faculty lines, to serve their community and serve their students,” Jindal said.

“I think it’s a great model for the state and the country — how our schools can work together for the benefit of everybody.”

Monty Sullivan, president of the LCTCS, said there are many challenges still ahead for the system.

Sullivan said that in order for the state’s economy to “continue to grow, continue to build the kinds of communities that we need right here in Southwest Louisiana, we must see the continued growth in places like Sowela.”(Rick Hickman/American Press)